Episode 189
"Slurp, slurp."
"...Mmm?"
Feeling something wet on my face, I lifted my heavy eyelids to see Lulu licking my face as I had been sleeping.
"Master, we've almost arrived home."
Seeing that I had opened my eyes, she paused her licking and informed me.
"...Mm."
Just as she said, through the carriage window, I could see Starlight Mansion.
"Yawn..."
"Slurp."
As I rubbed my sleepy eyes and yawned, I tried to prepare to get off the carriage while petting Lulu's head as she licked my ear, but.
"...Hm?"
Soon, I couldn't help but frown.
"What is this?"
Because people were gathered in droves around the mansion.
"W-what is it? Master?"
"Well, I'm not exactly sure..."
I thought maybe the servants who had left had gathered again, but the number of people gathered at the mansion was several times more than the servants.
"...At any rate, it doesn't seem like a friendly atmosphere."
And they all had either cold expressions or angry expressions.
""......""
The animals that had been sleeping with me in my arms, sensing something unusual, got up and started looking out the window with sharp eyes.
Somehow their appearance felt reassuring, but on the other hand, I was a bit worried. They seemed to have used a lot of power earlier, and I wondered if they had overexerted themselves.
'...Wait, but what are these guys?'
As I looked at them with worried eyes, I suddenly had that thought and furrowed my brows slightly.
Of course I knew they weren't ordinary animals, but while the cat doll and canary made sense, how did the owl and pigeon use magic?
I'll have to ask their owners when I meet them next time.
"M-Master. The atmosphere is strange."
As I was thinking this and about to get off the carriage, Lulu grabbed my arm with an anxious expression.
"...It's not like this is the first time."
"What?"
After giving her a casual reply and getting off the carriage, all the gathered people's gazes began to focus on me.
"H-hey everyone... wait! Wait a moment..."
And at the very front of those people.
Irina was blocking the people with a very flustered expression.
"Irina! Get a hold of yourself! What on earth are you doing!"
"...We've come for a legitimate protest."
Ariane, Irina's friend who was looking at Irina with teary eyes, and Alice, who served as the representative of the commoners, were there.
"Mm."
Looking at it roughly, I can roughly guess what the situation is. Probably, Alice, the commoner representative, gathered people to condemn me.
"...This works out well."
Judging by the situation alone, it's quite a headache, but in a way, this might be a good thing.
First, Ariane, who is over there tearfully trying to persuade Irina, is one of the 'sub-heroines' I decided to seek out during this vacation.
In the game, she has the least importance, and her events and settings are sparse... but she's still a sub-heroine.
Of course, I have no intention of conquering her. If I did, I can only imagine with fear how Irina would react, and originally I don't have much connection with her anyway.
But then again, why are there so many unnecessary sub-heroines in 'Blacktail Fantasy'?
Could there really be something like 'conquest rewards'?
If not, I can't see any reason why Ariane, who has absolutely no connection, would be a sub-heroine...
Ariane [Conquest Suspended]
Details.....
"Mm."
Lost in thought for a while, I checked the system window that appeared before my eyes, then shook my head and turned my gaze to the side.
"Alice..."
An assassin from the Moonlight family who was threatened by the secret family head during the mansion attack incident where the second trial occurred.
She is known to the public as the 'representative of commoners' and receives support while engaging in various activities.
Fortunately, she is not a sub-heroine. I scanned through the list just in case, and her name didn't exist.
"Everyone, please maintain order..."
However, even though she's not a heroine, she has quite a bit of importance.
She has little importance in the 1st year where there are few opportunities to appear.
In the 2nd year, for certain reasons, she gets elected as the student council president of Sunrise Academy.
For reference, the fake hero is involved in those certain reasons. Of course at this point, Ruby will obviously get involved.
Anyway, as student council president, she naturally comes into conflict with the headmaster and corrupt nobles.
And most importantly, she also comes into conflict with me, who is at their center. And directly at that.
That's why Alice's importance increases, because she becomes treated as the villain of the 2nd year scenario.
Of course, while she's called a villain, from her perspective, it's only natural she'd try to stop me.
- F, Frey...
As I was thinking that and blankly staring at the bustling crowd, Irina, who was trying hard to stop the people, sends me a sound transmission.
Even so, sound transmission magic is one of the highest-tier magics, and being able to use it freely shows that Irina is truly amazing.
- What should I do? What should I do...
Her eyes, looking at me after sending that message, were trembling severely.
"Ah...?"
And at that moment.
".....?"
Ariane, who was looking at me, flinched ever so slightly and tilted her head.
It happened in a fleeting moment, but since I was focusing my gaze on her, I noticed immediately.
'...Damn.'
Looking at that, it seems my hypothesis was correct.
After the third trial, some kind of change is occurring in the 'sub-heroines'.
That change mostly involves them developing 'certain' feelings toward me, and the magnitude seems to be related to how much connection I have with them.
I can't know the details or cause since Ferroche became a foolish personality, but anyway, right now those things aren't particularly good.
Lulu, whose conquest was completed, is literally an exception, but if such feelings arise in the sub-heroines, the probability of my identity being discovered will definitely increase.
That's why, before advancing to the 2nd year, I plan to meet the sub-heroines and use schemes to suppress even the feelings born from this change.
And the start of that will probably be Ariane right in front of me.
'...As a bonus, I should also keep Alice next to her in check to some extent.'
With that thought finished.
'Irina, listen well. I'll explain the operation now.'
I sent a sound transmission to Irina, who had been anxious and looking at me until then.
""........""
And a brief silence flowed.
"Ah."
In that silence, Irina, who heard all my explanation.
- F, Frey? Really? Are you serious? But that's... uuugh...
With her cheeks flushed bright red, she urgently began sending sound transmissions.
- Th, thank you... no, is this okay? Really? Won't you be uncomfortable? Is it really okay?
"...Sigh."
Seeing that she seems very burdened, I feel sorry for Irina.
Will this work out?
.
"What is this behavior?"
After finishing the sound transmission with Irina, Frey, who had been looking around with cold eyes for a while, finally spoke.
"...Grit."
Ariane grit her teeth at those words while.
"We were protesting."
Alice answered calmly with a composed expression.
"Protest?"
"Yes, a protest condemning you."
"...Ha."
At those words, Frey let out a hollow laugh.
"A protest right in front of a ducal residence, have you lost all fear?"
He began approaching her with a cold expression.
- Zzzing!
Then a barrier formed in front of Frey.
"This is a gathering done with the Church's permission and protection."
Thanks to that, Frey stopped walking and frowned, and Alice looked at him and spoke.
"All of these people are believers of the Church, gathered here with the Pope's permission."
"In my territory, I am the Pope and the Emperor. I could turn you all into pulp right this moment."
"Yes, please do so. The rumor that believers participating in a peaceful protest were killed will spread across the nation. Your power is already precarious as it is."
"Are you challenging me right now?"
"We've already laid down our lives. If we can create leverage to bring you down, we'll do anything."
As cold and frigid voices went back and forth, and a chill comparable to killing intent could be felt between Frey and Alice.
"G-give Irina back!!"
Ariane, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly screamed.
"Have you thought about how much Irina has suffered and struggled because of you? You terrible monster!"
Silence began to flow right after those words ended.
- Zzzing...!
Even so, when Frey only maintained an expressionless face, Ariane, who had surrounded herself with opaque barriers to block the gaze of the surroundings including the protesters.
"Ugh...!"
With her fists clenched tight, she began approaching Frey while tearing up.
"...Irina, is that true?"
Looking at such Ariane, Frey cast a question to Irina who was standing nearby.
"W-well, that's..."
Hearing those words, Irina, who had reddened her face and hesitated.
"If that's true, I'll send you to Ariane."
"...Ah."
She looked at Frey who spoke as if granting a favor, then looked at Ariane who was surprised by those words.
"...It's not true."
Finally, with her head bowed low, she answered like that.
"What...?"
Then Ariane had a shocked expression.
"A-are you being threatened somehow? Irina?"
Soon she urgently asked Irina.
"Irina, it's okay now. My sister went to a safe place. The Empire's public opinion has tilted, and so has the Church and the Imperial family. That scoundrel can't throw his weight around anymo-"
She started saying that while approaching Irina who had her head bowed low.
"I'm sorry, Ariane."
After swallowing dry saliva, Irina raised her head and spoke.
"But I..."
With her face flushed bright red, she turned toward Frey.
"...I've come to like Frey now."
She answered quietly while embracing his arms.
".......What?"
Ariane, looking at her with a dumbfounded expression.
"Th-that can't be... that doesn't make sense. You, Irina?"
Soon spoke while breaking into a cold sweat.
"You didn't even look at men because you were studying magic? You hated romance stories more than anything. Wait, but Frey? Why are you adding 'nim'..."
"I-I can't live without Frey anymore."
"Lies! Don't lie!"
Even so, as Irina stayed firmly in Frey's arms, Ariane screamed.
"You must have been threatened somehow! The Irina I know is someone who's never even held hands with a man!"
"U-um..."
"She would rather live with magic her whole life than like a man... huh?"
Ariane, who had been shouting with shaking eyes.
"Irina, you... surely..."
Muttered with her mouth agape as she saw the red bead Irina held out.
"...You made a Blood Oath?"
"Mm-hmm..."
"F-for real? Really...?"
Soon, Ariane, who had been muttering with an expression of disbelief.
"The Blood Oath... never manifests unless it's 'sincere'..."
Muttered with a dark expression.
"I told you."
Irina, looking at such Ariane with a strange expression, opened her mouth with her face even redder.
"...I can't live without him."
"...What?"
"I've already given him my body, my heart. Even my soul."
"You gave... your body...?"
"Y-you know too, right? The completion of the Blood Oath is... p-purity..."
While talking with her longtime friend in Frey's arms, Irina, who stopped speaking for a moment from embarrassment.
".....When did you do it?"
Frey, who was holding her, asked with a very flustered expression, and she muttered with her face buried in his chest.
"G-giving my purity was a lie... uuuugh..."
"No, the Blood Oath. When did you do..."
And at that moment.
- Thump
Ariane collapsed to the ground with a confused expression.
"F-Frey-nim."
Irina, who glanced at Ariane, took a deep breath.
"Chu."
And kissed him.
"......Huh?"
Ariane's cheeks turned red as she watched that sight.
"Uuu..."
Irina had some experience playing with Frey as childhood friends, but for Ariane, who had no experience with men in her life due to being engrossed in magic.
"Mmm..."
"...Haup."
The sight of tongues intertwining was too stimulating for her.
"Haa... haa..."
Thus, Frey, who pulled away leaving a long trail of saliva in that strange atmosphere.
"Alright, now..."
Whispered to Irina in a low voice.
"...Huh?"
But at that moment, Irina pressed against him again.
"I have to... make it certain... for sure..."
Soon, Irina, who licked Frey's lips.
"Wait, let me borrow your hand for a moment..."
".....?"
Using the detailed mana control she learned while in mana exhaustion state, she began manipulating Frey's arm downward.
- Swoosh...
"...Hiek!"
Soon, Irina collapsed onto Frey's shoulder.
"I love you... Frey...♡"
With a completely melted expression, feeling his touch, she looked at Frey lovingly and whispered.
".......Ah."
Ariane, who had been unable to do anything and just twitched, froze at that sight.
"I like you... Frey... I can't live without you now..."
"I-Irina."
"I think about you so many times when I sleep... so many times when I see you sleeping... ah, no. That's not it..."
Meanwhile, Irina, whose switch had completely flipped.
"I've grown this unrequited love so big..."
"Ah..."
"...Please take responsibility."
Breathing heavily, she whispered her love to Frey.
"Irina, first, here..."
"...Ah."
After continuing the affectionate display for a while, Irina came to her senses at Frey's urgent words.
"Eek..."
She stopped controlling Frey's arm and trembled for a moment.
- Thump
Then collapsed onto the ground.
"S-sorry... please forgive me..."
Soon Irina's pleading began.
"...Get lost."
"Heek..."
After coldly kicking her away, Frey turned to Ariane who was sitting on the ground.
"Did you see? The Irina you knew is gone. So..."
He lifted Ariane's chin, who had somehow lowered her head, and started whispering.
"........."
But for some reason, Ariane was just looking at Frey with a blank face.
"Looking at it, this is too much...!"
Alice, who could no longer bear to watch such a sight, urgently started walking toward them.
- Whoosh...!
"...Ack!"
It was right at that moment that Frey was hit in the head by a stone flying from somewhere.
"E-everyone!?"
Thanks to that, Alice was startled and checked her surroundings.
"......Didn't you say this was a non-violent protest?"
Frey, wearing a terrifying expression, began pressing Alice.
"But what is this?"
While holding Ariane, who had started hiccupping in his arms, with a cold smile.
"If it's not a non-violent protest but a violent one... the story would change, wouldn't it?"
Alice's eyes shook violently.